City of Savannah: Official News, Events & Community Updates
- Enmarket Arena will offer public skating, youth hockey, and adult league access when not used for Ghost Pirates or OVG events.
- The agreement schedules multiple dates Oct.–Dec. for Jr. Ghost Pirates, youth practice, adult hockey, and public skate sessions.
- Partners — the City of Savannah, Oak View Group, and Zawyer Sports — coordinated to expand community ice access.
- More detailed times, dates, and expanded 2026 ice availability will be announced later by OVG and the Ghost Pirates.
SAVANNAH – Working with partners Oak View Group, who manage operations at Enmarket Arena, and Zawyer Sports and Entertainment, who own and manage the Savannah Ghost Pirates, the City of Savannah has developed an agreement to provide public use of the ice rink beginning this month.
Under the agreement, the Savannah community will have opportunities to utilize the arena’s ice rink for recreational youth hockey, adult league hockey, and public skating during periods when Ghost Pirates and OVG events are not taking place.
“Public Skate is BACK ON in a big way inside our beautiful Enmarket Arena!” City Manager Jay Melder said. “I am grateful for the strong partnership we have with the Ghost Pirates and Oak View Group and pleased that we will be able to host public skate events this year. Team Savannah and our sports and entertainment partners are dedicated to providing our community with opportunities to utilize all of our public assets.”
Our team is incredibly grateful for our partnership with OVG at Enmarket Arena and the City of Savannah,” John Thompson, Executive Vice President, Zawyer Sports said. “Together, we’ve worked hard to find solutions and coordinate times that allow Ghost Pirates Ice members to access ice at Enmarket Arena this fall. Whether it’s youth and adult hockey or public skating, we are excited to keep the ice alive!
Our mission remains the same – to grow the game of hockey in our community and create unforgettable memories and experiences. We’re confident we can continue that momentum this year, and we’re already looking ahead to making an even greater impact in the future for our Ghost Pirates family!
“We’re thrilled to once again welcome the community to Savannah’s Enmarket Arena for this year’s community ice schedule,” Monty Jones Jr., General Manager of Enmarket Arena, said. “Partnering with the the City of Savannah and the Savannah Ghost Pirates, we’re proud to offer a full lineup of open skate sessions and fun opportunities for all ages to get on the ice. Whether you’re lacing up your skates for the first time or returning with friends and family, we hope everyone comes out to enjoy the magic of skating and the spirit of community here at the arena.”
The Savannah Ghost Pirates, an ECHL affiliated minor league hockey team, open their 72-game 2025-2026 season on Oct. 17. Beginning on Oct. 18, and running through December, 13 dates have been scheduled for Jr. Ghost Pirates and youth hockey use under the new agreement. Beginning Oct. 26, six future dates through December have been set aside for youth hockey practice, adult hockey games and practices, as well as public skating.
More details from OVG and the Ghost Pirates concerning the scheduled events, including times and exact dates, will be announced later this month. The agreement will also provide more ice time for the public in 2026 as the arena event schedule comes together in the coming months.
About Enmarket Arena
The City of Savannah completed construction of the state-of-the art, 9,500 seat Enmarket Arena in 2022 as part of a commitment to replace the aging Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena, create a new level of entertainment for the city, and revitalize the Canal District. The City owns the building and partners with Oak View Group to handle the arena’s operational and management functions. The new arena was completed at a cost of $165 million primarily funded by SPLOST VI dollars.
About Zawyer Sports and Entertainment
Zawyer Sports & Entertainment is a leading sports and entertainment company that owns, operates, and manages a diverse portfolio of teams and venues. The company’s family of brands includes the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Jacksonville Icemen, Greensboro Gargoyles, Charlotte Checkers, Mobile Pro Hockey, Gastonia Ghost Peppers, Ghost Pirates Ice, Community First Igloo, 32 Degrees Marketing, & The UPSHOT League – a new professional women’s basketball team plus the first four teams in the league – the Jacksonville Waves, Savannah Steel, The UPSHOT Greensboro, and The UPSHOT Charlotte. Through all of its teams, Zawyer strives to provide family sports entertainment with an emphasis on quality fan experiences and community engagement!
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
Read the full announcement on the official site
